With the game at 0-0 and just a handful of minutes remaining, Riyad Mahrez had a glorious chance to end Manchester City's abysmal record at Anfield, where the champions haven't won for 15 years.
Virgil van Dijk had been penalised for bringing down Leroy Sane in the box and City's support, massed at that end of the ground, could barely hide their excitement -- finally an opportunity to bury some of those memories, the decades of embarrassment and pain at this unyielding place. The party would be long and loud.
As Mahrez stepped up, television viewers were treated to a harrowing graphic showing the Algerian's previous five attempts from the spot -- three of which did not reach their intended target.